ZCZC
BSS-19
FLOOD-SITUATION-RANGPUR (with picture)
Sporadic erosion as flood situation improves in B’putra basin
RANGPUR, July 30, 2020 (BSS) – With continuous improvement in the flood situation, sporadic riverbank erosion was reported from alongside major rivers in eight affected northern districts in the last 24 hours ending at 9am today in the Brahmaputra basin.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of major rivers marked further fall during the period and were still flowing above the danger marks (DM) at eight points in five northern districts.
Executive Engineers of BWDB for its Kurigram and Lalmonirhat divisions Ariful Islam and Mokhlesur Rahman for its Gaibandha division said riverbank protection works are continuing at some vulnerable points in these three districts.
Similarly, the BWDB is conducting riverbank protection works at few other places alongside major rivers in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts in the basin.
Talking to BSS, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion have been reported from few places alongside major rivers with recession of floodwaters.
“However, all flood control embankments and structures of BWDB are remaining safe following appropriate steps and early preparedness taken timely in Rangpur zone,” Ghosh added.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of BWDB sources, the flood situation might improve further in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogura, Jamalpur and Sirajganj districts during the next 24 hours.
During the past 24 hours till 9am, the recorded rainfalls were 107mm at Pasighat, 88mm at Cherrapunji, 52mm at Jalpaiguri and 51mm at Goalpara points of the northwestern Indian states in the upstream.
BWDB officials said the Dharla was flowing above the DM by 20cm at Kurigram, Ghagot by 26cm at Gaibandha and Brahmaputra by 19cm at Chilmari points in Kurigram at 9 am today.
Besides, the Jamuna was still flowing above the DMs by 47cm at Fulchhari, 58cm at Bahadurabad, 67cm at Sariakandi, 48cm at Kazipur and 47cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain said the district administrations have further intensified distribution of relief materials among flood-hit people of affected districts in Rangpur division.
Talking to BSS, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Kurigram Abdul Hye Sarker said the second phase flood has affected over 2.50 lakh people of 62,630 families in the district.
“We are distributing 190 tonnes of rice, Taka 13 lakh, 8,000 packets of dry foods, Taka six lakh for baby foods and Taka nine lakh animal fodders among flood-affected people in three upazilas of the district,” he said.
DRRO of Gaibandha Moazzem Hossain said more than 2.50 lakh people of over 60,000 families have been affected by the second phase of the deluge in the district.
“We are distributing 440 tonnes of rice, Taka eight lakh, 6,650 packets of dry foods, Taka four lakh for baby foods and Taka nine lakh for animal fodders among flood-hit people in the district,” Hossain said.
Similarly, massive relief activities are continuing in affected areas of other northern districts in the basin.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Amin Ahmed Khan said 713 medical teams are extending health services to the people residing in flood-prone and other rural areas of Rangpur division.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali said floodwaters submerged standings crops on 12,294 hectares of land in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region in the second phase of the deluge.
BSS/ASG/MI/FI/ 1526 hrs